The Ark

When you pull into the parking lot of The Ark Shelter, your first impression of the facility is probably anything but homey. Its orange brick exterior and looming façade seem more like a typical 1980s office suite than a safe haven for youth in crisis.

But step inside the building and you’ll find a fresh warmth where youth ages 10-17, who have run away from their family, are in crisis or are homeless, find a safe space to work through their emotions, calm their panic and create a plan for their future.

The Ark Services for Youth is comprised of three different programs: The Ark Shelter, which serves around 200 youth ages 10 to 17 each year; Youth Independent Transitional Living Program, which helps provide up to 18 months of housing for more than 50 young adults ages 17 to 21 each year; and Ark Outreach, whose case managers connect thousands of in-crisis youths with services each year.

Located near Hackett Catholic Prep on Kilgore Avenue in Kalamazoo, The Ark Shelter serves youth across the nine counties of the diocese 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Youth are able to stay at The Ark Shelter for up to 21 days within a 90-day time period, with the average stay being two weeks. During their stay, they work closely with case managers and counselors to discover causes of crisis in their lives, develop goals and learn important life and relationship skills.

“Some of the youth we see have simply hit a rough patch and we can help bridge whatever gap they are struggling with,” says Ben Moe, director of Ark Services for Youth. “But some have struggled with instability, moving a lot and don’t have the life skills they need to be successful as they mature.”

A common misconception, Moe says, is that a stay at The Ark can be court-ordered. But every youth who stays in the shelter stays there voluntarily.

“Our goal is to help youth progress and reunify with their families if that’s the healthiest space for them,” says Moe. “We work with six to ten youth on average at one time, focusing on communication skills, anger management, family relations, as well as life skills such as how to wash laundry, prepare simple meals, develop a budget, find reliable transportation, etc. We want them to be successful in whatever goals they set for themselves and we try to provide them with the tools to do so.”

Respecting their individuality and their space, as well as helping them feel safe, helps open the youth up to all the services available to them, says Shawna Henry, operations manager for The Ark Shelter.

“A majority of the families we see are in ‘crisis mode,’” says Henry. “During a conflict we’re often reacting to the other person and that makes it easy to miss the real meaning of what they’re saying. Many of these families are living in conditions that don’t really provide them with space to step back and take a breath, to deescalate the conflict. We’re able to provide them with an outside perspective through family sessions, in person or over the phone, to work toward reunifying the family through conflict resolution.

“We aren’t punishment. The kids we see aren’t bad kids and the parents we work with aren’t bad parents. We’re community support and we present the opportunity to remove stressors and work as a team.”

And since The Ark Shelter is always open, the staff tries to treat any youth living there over holidays as family. This past Christmas, thanks to generous donors who call every year, there were presents waiting for the eight youth residents. Staff members dressed up as elves to bring some festivity to the day that, if not for The Ark, would have found these 10 to 17 year olds staying on the street, camping out wherever they could find space, or remaining in toxic home situations.

“Without a community of family and friends it can be hard to work through conflict,” says Henry. “But who do you ask if you have no community? For a lot of families we’re able to be that community, that sounding board, to help them figure out what is and isn’t normal and fix unhealthy and destructive patterns so they can achieve their goals and be successful long term.”

For many of the youth who use The Ark’s services, their stays are turning points in their lives, giving them the tools, support and encouragement they need to pursue education and careers, and providing a family they are always able to rely on when they need help. Many return to visit, stay in touch with their case managers and donate after they’ve moved on from The Ark, continuing the legacy of changing lives through Catholic Charities.